{
  "slug": "sound-db",
  "title": "Decibel Distance Calculator",
  "heading": "Sound Level & Distance Calculator",
  "category": "math",
  "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/sound-db",
  "summary": "How loudness drops as you move away from a source.",
  "description": "Sound pressure falls roughly 6 dB every time distance doubles. Useful for noise complaints, speaker placement, and hearing safety.",
  "formula": "dB₂ = dB₁ − 20 log₁₀(d₂ ÷ d₁)",
  "dateModified": "2026-09-30",
  "run_url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/api/public/calc?tool=sound-db",
  "inputs": [
    {
      "id": "db1",
      "label": "Level at reference distance",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 100,
      "unit": "dB",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "d1",
      "label": "Reference distance",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 1,
      "unit": "m",
      "min": 0.01,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "d2",
      "label": "New distance",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 10,
      "unit": "m",
      "min": 0.01,
      "max": null
    }
  ],
  "outputs": [
    {
      "id": "db2",
      "label": "Level at new distance (dB)",
      "format": "decimal",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": true
    },
    {
      "id": "drop",
      "label": "Reduction (dB)",
      "format": "decimal",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "safe",
      "label": "Exposure note",
      "format": "raw",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "times",
      "label": "Relative intensity (×)",
      "format": "decimal",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    }
  ],
  "worked_example": {
    "inputs": [
      "Level at reference distance: 100 dB",
      "Reference distance: 1 m",
      "New distance: 10 m"
    ],
    "outputs": [
      "Level at new distance (dB): 80",
      "Reduction (dB): 20",
      "Exposure note: Below 85 dB — safe for 8h",
      "Relative intensity (×): 0.01"
    ]
  },
  "how_to": {
    "title": "How to use this",
    "steps": [
      "Enter level at reference distance (dB).",
      "Enter reference distance (m).",
      "Enter new distance (m).",
      "Read your level at new distance (db) on the right — it updates as you type.",
      "Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone."
    ]
  },
  "scenarios": [
    {
      "name": "Conservative",
      "description": "Lower-end numbers — what if things land soft?",
      "values": {
        "db1": 60,
        "d1": 0.6,
        "d2": 6
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Typical",
      "description": "Defaults — the most common real-world setup.",
      "values": {
        "db1": 100,
        "d1": 1,
        "d2": 10
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Ambitious",
      "description": "Higher-end numbers — what if things really pop?",
      "values": {
        "db1": 160,
        "d1": 1.6,
        "d2": 16
      }
    }
  ],
  "limitations": [
    "Results are rounded for display; the underlying calculation keeps full precision.",
    "Very large or very small inputs may hit floating-point limits in the browser.",
    "Inputs outside the accepted range are clamped rather than rejected."
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "q": "How does the sound level & distance calculator work?",
      "a": "Sound pressure falls roughly 6 dB every time distance doubles. Useful for noise complaints, speaker placement, and hearing safety. The underlying maths is: dB₂ = dB₁ − 20 log₁₀(d₂ ÷ d₁)"
    },
    {
      "q": "What do I need to enter?",
      "a": "3 values: level at reference distance, reference distance, and new distance. Each field starts with a sensible default, so you can change one number at a time and watch the result move."
    },
    {
      "q": "What does the level at new distance (db) result mean?",
      "a": "It is returned as a decimal number and updates live as you edit the inputs, so you can compare two or three versions of a scenario in a few seconds."
    },
    {
      "q": "Is this calculator free, and do I need an account?",
      "a": "Yes, it's free, and no account is required. Nothing you type is stored on our servers — the maths runs entirely in your browser."
    },
    {
      "q": "How accurate is the result?",
      "a": "It applies the standard formula exactly, so the arithmetic is precise. Results are rounded for display; the underlying calculation keeps full precision."
    },
    {
      "q": "Who is this tool for?",
      "a": "It's built for students, developers, and anyone who needs the answer right now without setting up a spreadsheet."
    }
  ],
  "related": [],
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "citation": "RevenueLab — Decibel Distance Calculator (https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/sound-db)"
}